The women’s basketball team picked up a pair of wins over Northwood University and University of Illinois Springfield to improve to (4-0) on the season behind their offense.
The Bulldogs took on and defeated Northwood University on Nov. 16 at home 79-51.
The Bulldogs had a strong second quarter offensively outscoring Northwood 28- 7 as the Bulldogs were 58.3% (7-12) from the field, 66.7% (6-9) from three-point range, and 100% (8-8) from the free throw line.
Mia Riley’s 13 second-quarter points, including a perfect 4-4 from the field, 3-3 from three-point range, and 2-2 at the free throw line was a boost off the bench for the Bulldogs.
The big second quarter helped the Bulldogs lead 47- 20 at the half.
The Bulldogs picked up where they left off in the second quarter in the third quarter outscoring Northwood 25-16 shooting 58.8% (10-17) from the field and 55.6% from three-point range to help the Bulldogs to a win.
The Bulldogs shot 47.5% (28-59) from the field, 45.5% (15-33) from three-point range, and perfect (8-8) from the free throw line. They also out-rebounded Northwood 44-37 and had more assists (22-11) for the game.
“Shooting the ball was a function of us moving the ball well,” head coach Kurt Westendord said. “I think we did a nice job of getting some player movement in that first half. I think we shot the ball really well from three and I don’t remember a defender really being in our face for any of them and that goes to what they did before the shot went up we set good screens, move the ball.”
Mallory McCartney led the team in scoring with 18 points, Riley had 15 off the bench, Deshonna Day had 12, Elle Irwin had nine and Kenzie Bowers had eight.
Grace Sullivan led the Bulldogs in assists with seven coming off the bench, McCartney had six, Bowers had three and both Day and Chloe Idoni had two.
Amaka Unobagha led the team in rebounds with nine off the bench, Idoni had 7, Riley and McCartney both had 6 and Bowers finished with five.
“Northwood is a great team,” McCartney said. “They have a great coaching staff and great players. I think the biggest message was to be hungry, be that team who’s on the floor for every ball and be that grittier team and move the ball. We played as a team, and we got the win.”
That win carried over as the Bulldogs beat the University of Illinois- Springfield (97-71) on Nov.19 on the road.
The Bulldogs had it clicking offensively shooting 51.4% (38-74) from the field, 50% from three-point range (11-22), and 76.9% (10-13) from the free throw line. They also out-rebounded their opponent 37-22 and won the assists battle as well (19-8). They only turned the ball over 11 to their opponent’s 14.
The Bulldogs were led by McCartney with 20 points, Idoni with 18, Bowers had 16 and Day, Irwin, and Riley all had 10 points.
Idoni had a team-high 10 rebounds, Bowers had six and both Irwin and Ariel Jenkins finished with five.
McCartney led the team in assists with five, Bowers had four and both Idoni and Riley finished with three.
The Bulldogs will be back in action at home Saturday, Nov. 26 as they take on Grace Christian at 7 p.m.